I was very tempted by the $300 Nienhuis set with glass beads but couldn’t justify the price. After opening this, I’m so glad I chose it instead. The quality is good for home use and it doesn’t feel so “cheap” as to take away from learning. What impressed me the most is that it’s not just a few random beads, but a full set that will serve all kinds of lessons, with enough of each bead type, sets of number cards, and some well-chosen wooden trays too. This set plus a set of the colored beads should take you through preschool math, making it a worthwhile investment at a great value.